Law Enforcement Concludes Investigation in Tymoshenko Case Involving Bribery of Deputies

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) have finalized their pre-trial investigation concerning Yulia Tymoshenko, the head of the Batkivshchyna faction, who faces allegations of attempting to bribe members of the Ukrainian Parliament. The investigation revealed that in December 2025, despite NABU and SAP uncovering instances of lawmakers receiving bribes, Tymoshenko began negotiating with certain parliamentarians regarding a system of rewards for favorable voting.

According to information from NABU's press service, the discussions involved a persistent mechanism of cooperation, whereby deputies were to receive advance payments in exchange for following directives on voting, including voting 'for' or 'against', abstaining, or not participating in votes at all. This indicates an attempt to establish a bribery system that could significantly influence the passage of crucial decisions in the parliament.

Reports indicate that on January 14, 2026, NABU and SAP officially notified Tymoshenko of her suspicion regarding the offer of illegal benefits to Ukrainian lawmakers. The investigation suggests that following the revelations in December 2025 regarding lawmakers receiving illicit benefits for voting on legislative proposals, Tymoshenko initiated talks with individual deputies to implement a systematic mechanism for providing illegal benefits in exchange for compliant behavior during votes.

In response to these accusations, Yulia Tymoshenko vehemently denied all charges, claiming that they are politically motivated attacks against her. She asserts that these allegations are part of a campaign aimed at discrediting her and that she has no involvement in bribing deputies.

On January 16, 2026, the High Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) set Tymoshenko's bail at 33 million hryvnias and established procedural obligations. Tymoshenko noted that she did not ask her party members to raise funds for her bail, but her colleagues decided to do so to prevent her arrest.

On January 21, 2026, VAKS did not seize funds in the accounts of the Batkivshchyna faction leader but placed a freeze on assets that were confiscated during searches, as well as on property belonging to Tymoshenko's husband. This decision sparked outrage among her supporters, who believe that such actions are politically motivated.

On January 23, 2026, bail was posted for Tymoshenko, allowing her to avoid arrest. This situation continues to generate significant public resonance, as Tymoshenko is one of the most prominent political figures in Ukraine, and her case draws attention not only from politicians but also from ordinary citizens.